S3E1: Referendum!
02/22/23 • 14 min
Welcome back to Season 3 of the the Sturgis Kitchen Table! On February 21, 2023, the Sturgis City Council passed a resolution purporting to authorize the City to hire a new city manager following the resignation of long-time City Manager Daniel Ainslie. Over a year ago, a valid petition bearing the signatures of nearly 900 registered voters was submitted to call an election on whether Sturgis should keep the city manager form of government the voters created in 2007, or go back to the aldermanic form of government without a city manager. The City refused to hold the election called by that petition, and the petition circulators filed a lawsuit to force the City's hand. That lawsuit is currently pending before the South Dakota Supreme Court and an election may still be ordered. On February 22nd, Mr. Johnson and Mr. Davis announced the circulation of a referendum petition to prevent the City from hiring a new city manager until the voters have their say. Follow Season 3 of the Sturgis Kitchen Table for all the details.
Below are links to documents or files referenced in today's episode:
- View, download, and print a copy of the referendum petition
- View, download, and print a copy of the initiative petition
- Review information from the SD Secretary of State's Office on how to circulate a municipal petition
- View the press release
Welcome back to Season 3 of the the Sturgis Kitchen Table! On February 21, 2023, the Sturgis City Council passed a resolution purporting to authorize the City to hire a new city manager following the resignation of long-time City Manager Daniel Ainslie. Over a year ago, a valid petition bearing the signatures of nearly 900 registered voters was submitted to call an election on whether Sturgis should keep the city manager form of government the voters created in 2007, or go back to the aldermanic form of government without a city manager. The City refused to hold the election called by that petition, and the petition circulators filed a lawsuit to force the City's hand. That lawsuit is currently pending before the South Dakota Supreme Court and an election may still be ordered. On February 22nd, Mr. Johnson and Mr. Davis announced the circulation of a referendum petition to prevent the City from hiring a new city manager until the voters have their say. Follow Season 3 of the Sturgis Kitchen Table for all the details.
Below are links to documents or files referenced in today's episode:
- View, download, and print a copy of the referendum petition
- View, download, and print a copy of the initiative petition
- Review information from the SD Secretary of State's Office on how to circulate a municipal petition
- View the press release
Previous Episode
S2E1: Welcome to Season 2 - Let the Citizens Vote!
The candidate elections have been decided, but the lawsuit attempting to force the Sturgis City Council to hold an election on the city manager form of government continues. In this episode we call on the Sturgis mayor and council members to drop the City's defense in this lawsuit and agree to hold an election on the question of whether Sturgis should keep the city manager form of government or go back to the strong-mayor form of government. This issue needs to get out of the courtroom and onto a ballot.
If we at the Sturgis Kitchen Table can persuade the city to hold let its citizens vote, then Season Two of this podcast is going to be very short. However, if the City refuses to let the people vote on this issue, then we'll follow the lawsuit and try to explain the concepts, and arguments, and the status in layman terms for the benefit of any of our friends and neighbors who want to listen.
Welcome to Season Two of the Sturgis Kitchen Table. We hope you find it informative.
Download or listen to our theme song, "In the Loop" composed by Philippe Meunier.
Next Episode
S3E2: Referendum Petitions are Circulating
The petitions necessary to refer the decision of Sturgis City Council to hire a new city manager and continue under the city manager form of government to a vote of the people are circulating around the community. To call this election, we need to gather at least 300 valid signatures in about 3 weeks. In this episode, we will talk about what the petitions call for, how you can add your name to the petition, and how you can circulate a petition to collect the signatures of your family, friends, and neighbors.
Below are links to documents or files referenced in today's episode:
- View, download, and print a copy of the referendum petition
- View, download, and print a copy of the initiative petition
- Review information from the SD Secretary of State's Office on how to circulate a municipal petition
- View the press release
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